Thermophilic campylobacters were isolated from three sewage plants in
Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil and identified. Laboratory analysis of 390
sewage samples showed the presence of 169 thermophilic strains. The results
demonstrated that human and animal pathogenic biotypes could be isolated
from activated sludge during the initial processing steps. The aeration
tank could be considered a barrier to Campylobacter survival. C.
jejuni was the prevalent species isolated (40.8%).The most common
biotypes were C. jejuni biotype I (21.3%), C. coli biotype I (16%)
and C. jejuni biotype II ( 14.8%). {P}